OFFSTAGE: Taylor Swift Tells Today About Her Parents

(CMT Offstage keeps a 24/7 watch on everything that’s happening with country music artists behind the scenes and out of the spotlight.)

Less than a week before her 21st birthday, Taylor Swift joined Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb on NBC’s Today show on Tuesday morning (Dec. 7) and they talked about how much of a grown-up soul she is. Then the talked turned to Swift’s parents.
Hoda gave her two cents on Mr. and Mrs. Swift by saying, “Your dad is kind of a cheerleader with two pompoms and your mom’s the realist.” Swift agreed and went on to say that her dad is enthusiastically behind her every step of the way. “My dad is the one who is like, ‘Man, I’m telling you, I know I said your last show was the best show, but this one was just, ya know, so great.’ And he’s handing out guitar picks to the crowd,” she said. When the hosts asked Swift if there was advice she didn’t take from her mother, Swift said, “Of course,” but never specified which advice that was. She just talked in general terms about learning lessons on your own. “The ones that impact you the most,” she said, “are the ones you learn the hard way.” View photos of Swift on the Today show.